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Are You a Candidate?
The National Institute for Health (NIH) has developed several criteria to help determine if you are a candidate for surgical weight loss.
- a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or more-about 100 pounds overweight for men and 80 pounds for women
- a BMI between 35 and 39.9 and a serious obesity-related health problem such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, or severe sleep apnea (when breathing stops for short periods during sleep)
- an understanding of the operation and the lifestyle changes you will need to make.
Other criteria that are considered when evaluating eligibility
Patient has attempted to lose weight by:
- Dietary means
- Pharmaceutical therapy
- Behavior modifications
- Exercise
Other factors to consider include:
- Level of motivation to lose weight
- Level of commitment to lifelong dietary, exercise and medical guidelines, as well as follow-up care
- Awareness and acceptance of operative risks
The LAP-BAND® System is not recommended for patients:
- Who are younger than 18 years
- With conditions that may make them poor surgical candidates or increase the risk of poor results
- Who are unwilling or unable to comply with the required dietary restrictions
- Who currently are or may become pregnant
How can you know for sure if you are a candidate?
The easiest way to find out if you are a candidate for bariatric surgery is simply to ask us. We invite you to attend a free education seminar to find out more about weight loss options or simply call our office to get more information. We are always ready to help you begin a journey toward better health through weight loss.
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